BIM+ – German government set to mandate BIM on transport projects

Virtual construction and BIM consultant Hochtief Vicon will lead a project to implement a road map towards mandating BIM on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.

The aim of the project is to implement BIM within the federal transport infrastructure by 2020, with BIM mandated on all projects under the responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (Bundesministerium für Verkehr und digitale Infrastruktur (BMVI)) by this date.

BIM will be introduced in three consecutive steps starting with a preparatory phase taking place until 2017, then the pilot phase taking place until 2020, following which BIM is expected to be mandatory for all new projects.

The road map is aimed at rendering planning and construction processes, especially of large infrastructure projects, in a more efficient, transparent and controllable way.

Vicon will provide consultancy service to the pilot projects. In addition, experts will analyse to what extent BIM is already being used in Germany and determine a realistic performance level to be expected when BIM is introduced in 2020 for the public infrastructure sector.

The consortium will define the steps required for nationwide BIM implementation and analyse matters relating to the legal and contractual situation. It will also work out recommended actions and provide market participants with guidelines, samples, and handouts.

An integral part of consultancy services consists of systematic training of employees and decision-makers for traffic infrastructure projects in the respective federal states.

Image: Atkins utilised BIM to develop a strengthening and management strategy for the elevated section of motorway between Junctions 1 and 3 of the M4 in west London. BIM will now be mandated on projects like this in Germany.